Synergistic effects of HSE and LTR elements from hsp70 gene promoter of Ulva prolifera (Ulvaphyceae, Chlorophyta) upon temperature induction.

Besides heat stress, the 70 kDa heat shock proteins (HSP70s) have been proved to respond to cold stress. However, the involved cis-acting elements remained unknown. The hsp70 gene from green macroalga Ulva prolifera (Uphsp70) had been cloned from which one heat shock element HSE and one low temperature responsive element LTR were found in the promoter. Using the established transient expression system and quantitative GUS assay, series of element deletion experiments were performed to determine the functions of HSE and LTR in response to temperature stress. The results showed that under cold stress, both HSE and LTR were indispensable, since deletion leads to complete loss of promoter activity. Under heat stress, although the HSE could respond independently, coexistence with LTR was essential for high induced activity of the Uphsp70 promoter. Therefore, synergistic effects exist between HSE and LTR elements in response to temperature stress in Ulva, and extensive bioinformatics analysis showed that the mechanism is widespread in algae and plants, since LTR coexists widely with HSE in the promoter region of hsp70. Our findings provided important supplements for the knowledge of algal and plant HSP70s response to temperature stress. We speculated that for algae domestication and artificial breeding, HSE and LTR elements might serve as potential molecular targets to temperature acclimation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.